Holding device



June 2, 1931. G. T. couslNs HOLDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 17. 1928 /Ififi-12,54%

INVENTOR TToRNEY.

If Z2 w ww %M \\\\VVVVV Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE GEORGE T. COUSINS, 0F NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TOINGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OFN'EW JERSEY HOLDING DEVICE Application led October 17, 1928. Serial No.313,096.

This invention relates to holding devices, but more particularly to aholding device adapted for attachment to a pneumatically actuated hammertool of the type employed for driving spikes and similar articles.

One object of the invention is to enable the hammer tool to be readilyretained in striking relation with the spike unaffected by the vibrationset up in the drill during its operation.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

In the drawings accompanying the specification and in which similarreference characters refer to similar parts,

Figure l is a sectional elevation of a pneumatic tool having theinvention applied thereto, and

Figure 2 is a transverse view through F19;- ure l taken on the line 2--2looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and illustrating themanner in which the guide sleeve is mounted on the front head of thepneumatic tool.

Referring to the drawings the invention is shown applied to a pneumatictool `designated by A and only the forward port1on of which is shown forthe purpose of illustration.

The tool A. comprises a cylinder B, a front head C and a front cylinderwasher D interposed between the cylinder B and the front head O andextending into these elements to centralize them with respect to eachother. A bore E in the front cylinder washer D forms a seat for an anvilblock F having a stem G which extends into the front end of the cylinderto receive the blows of a hammer piston H reciprocable in the cylinderB.

In the present instance the anvil block F also has a forwardly extendingprojection J which extends slidably throughv the front head to a pointslightly in advance thereof to bear against the element intended to bedriven, as for instance, a spike K utilized for securing a rail L to atie O.

One of the principal difficulties in driving spikes such as thatillustrated, with pneumatic hammer tools is that of maintainin the toolin the proper striking relation wit respect to the spike. One reason forthis is that the surface of the spike against which the blows of thetool are delivered is of spherical form so that in using implements ofknown types which have the usual flat impact surfaces only a small pointof contact may be obtained between such implement and the head of thespike. In hand driving this feature may not always be objectionable, butwhen using pneumatic tools, such as that illustrated in the drawings forthis purpose itis difficult to maintain the tool on the spike because ofthe rapidity at which the blows are delivered and the consequentvibration set up in the tool when operating at high speeds.

In order ,to overcome the difficulty above set forth means are providedfor maintaining the pneumatic tool in the correct striking positionrelatively to the spike K. To this end a sleeve P is disposed slidablyon the exterior 'of the front head C and the bore Q, of the sleeve P isadapted to slidably engage a cylindrical surface R at the front end ofthe front head O for maintaining the sleeve P substantially coaxial withthe front head.

The rearward portion S of the bore Q, of the sleeve is preferablyenlarged and cooperates with a correspondingly large surface T of thefront head to further assure against any relative lateral movementbetween the front head and the sleeve. Due to this form of constructiona ange U and a shoulder V are formed on the sleeve P and the front headC respectively and said flange U and the shoulder V vcooperate with eachother for limiting the distance which the sleeve P may move on the fronthead in a rearwardly di rection.

Preferably means are provided for main taining the sleeve P on the fronthead C so that it will at all times be in substantially the. correctposition for engagement with the spike. The means employed for thispurpose comprises in' this instance a pair of rivets or pins W disposedon opposite sides of the 9?- sleeve and having their ends X riveted asillustrated more particularly in Figure 2 to maintain them in thesleeve. In the assembled position of the pins said pins extend throu hrecesses or slots Y in opposite sides of t e l0@ Afront head C, saidslots having shoulders I) at their front ends against which the pins vWmay abut for limiting movement of the sleeve towards the front end ofthe front head C.

In order to normally insure the guiding position of the sleeve P on thefront head, that is the foremost limiting position of said sleeve, aspring o is disposed on the front head C which it encircles to bea-rwith one end against the rearward end of the sleeve P and with its otherend against a shoulder d of the front head.

In practice, whenever it is intended to drive the spike K into a tie thespike K may irst be placed in substantially the correct positionrelatively to the rail which it is intended to secure to the tie. Thepneumatic tool A is then seated on the spike and the piston H is set inoperation. In the position of the pneumatic tool illustrated theextension J of the anvil block F will bear against the head of the spikeand the blows of the hammer piston Il will then be transmitted throughthe anvil block F to the spike for driving it into the tie t). After thespike has been properly started in the tie O the operator may applypressure to the tool A and the spike will be readily driven into the tieO to secure the rail L thereto.

As the head of the spike approaches the flange of the rail L the frontend of the sleeve P will of course contact with the flange of the railand the sleeve will be gradually pushed rearwardly on the front head Cin accordance with the degree of penetration of the spike into the tieO. The front end of the sleeve P will however at all times remain inengagement with the head of the spike, and the extension J of the anvilblock F will therefore be maintained on the spike until the spike isdriven rmly into the securing position. The pneumatic tool A may then beremoved and during its removal from the spike the spring c will urge thesleeve P forwardly preparatory to the driving of another spike.

I claim:

l. In a holding device for hammer tools, the combination of a cylinderand a hammer piston, a front head for the cylinder, an anvil block inthe front head projecting beyond the forward end thereof to bear againstan element intended to be driven for transmitting the blows of thehammer piston to such element, and a sleeve supported by the front headin position to extend over an end portion only of such element formaintaining the tool in operative striking relation with respect to suchelement, said operative striking relation being either coaxial or obliue.

q2. In a holding device for hammer tools, the combination of a, cylinderand a hammer piston, a front head for the cylinder having a forwardreduced extension, an anvil block in the front head and the extensionand prov jecting beyond the forward end of said eX- tension to bea-ragainst an element intended to be driven for transmitting the blows ofthe hammer piston to such element, a sleeve sldable on the project-ionand adapted to be fully retracted thereon, and means cooperating Wilhthesleeve and the extension to normally maintain said sleeve in position toextend over an end portion only of such driven element to maintain thetool in operative striking relation with respect to such element, saidoperative striking relation being either coaxial or oblique.

3. In a holding device, the combination of a hammer tool having acylinder and a front head, a hammer piston in the cylinder, means in thefront head for transn'iitting the blows of the hammer piston to anelement intended to be driven, a sleeve slidable on the front head forguiding such element during the driving thereof, shoulders on theexterior of the front head, means carried by the sleeve cooperating withthe shoulders to limit the longitudinal movement of the sleeve on thefront head, and a spring encircling the front head and acting on thesleeve to urge said sleeve toward the front end of the front head.

4. In a holding device, the combination of a hannner tool having acylinder and a front head, shoulders on the exterior of the front head,a harmner piston in the cylinder, an

anvil block in the front head for transmitting the blows of the hammerpiston to an element intended to be driven, a sleeve slidable on thefront head for guiding such element during the driving thereof andhaving an internal flange to cooperate with one of the shoulders forlimiting movement of the sleeve on the front head in a rearwardlydirection, a pin in the sleeve to abut another shoulder for maintainingthe sleeve on the front head, and a spring acting against the front headand the sleeve for urging the sleeve toward the front end of the fronthead.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

GEORGE T. COUSINS.

